Mechanism foe automatically opeeating theottle and beake



(No Model.)

T. POTTER.

MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING THROTTLE AND BRAKE VALVES OE LOCOMOTIVES. I I L No. 316,171. g) Patented Apr. 21, 1885 @QQM 21/ WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEY THOMAS POTTER, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING THROTTLE AND BRAKE VALVES 0F LOCOMOTIVES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,171, dated. April 21, 1885.

Application filed September 11,1884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS POTTER, of J ersey City, county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mechanism for Automatically Closing the Throttle- Valve of a Locomotive and Automatically Applying Brakes to the Train; and Ideclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings, forming part of this specification.

The invention consists in the mechanism, hereinafter shown, described, and claimed, whereby the throttle-valve of a locomotive and the brakes on a train are automatically operated.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of switch-magnet, battery, and circuit-closer. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of track, magnet, locomotive-battery, andlevers.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

To prevent accidents on railways from misplaced switches and open draw-bridges, and to do this without relying implicitly upon the vigilance of the engineer, is the main purpose of this invention.

It is important in cases of misplaced switches or open draw-bridges that the speed of the train be checked and the train finally stopped with certainty at a safe distance from the switch or draw. To effect this,and to effect it automatically, I locate at any convenient position in the vicinity of the switch or draw a galvanic battery, A, of any well-known construction, and with sufficient power to answer the purpose for which I have designed it. The poles of this battery are so arranged and connected with the movable rails of a switch or with a draw that when the rails are thrown over off the main track, or the draw opened,the circuit of the battery A will be completed or established, and the current of electricity be led by the circuit-wires a of the battery to a coil,B, which surrounds a bar of soft iron, 0, transforming this bar ofiron by this means into a temporary magnet. This magnet is secured between or alongside the rails of the main track D of the road, and it should lie parallel with and adjacent to the rail of one side of the track.

Suitably pivoted to the front side of the 10- comotive, and at a height which will enable it to conveniently clear the track, is a lever, E. To one end of this lever is likewise pivoted a connecting-rod, F, the upper end of this rod F engaging with one end of a lever, G, also pivoted to the locomotive. To the inner end of thislever G are arranged the poles of a battery, H, fixed to the locomotive, the circuit-wires of this last-named battery by a suitable armature, and a lever operated thereby controlling the throttle-valve and brake-valve on the engine.

Now, when my device is constructed substantially as hereinbefore described, its operation is as follows: The movable rails of aswitch having been thrown from the main track,ora draw-bridge having been opened, a circuit is at once established in the poles of the battery A, and the bar of soft iron, 0, by reason of its surrounding coil B, is created a magnet of much power. The locomotive approaching the switch or draw reaches this magnet, and at that instant the magnet exerts its power by attracting one end of the pivoted lever E, which through its connecting-rod F operates the lever G, thereby closing the circuit of the battery H on the locomotive. As this circuit is closed an armature, I, is instantly actuated, and this armature through or by means of a lever, K, closes the throttle-valve L of the locomotive, and opens the brake-valve of the air or I steam brake, so that instantaneously the steam is shut off from the locomotive, andthe brakes applied automatically and without relying upon the vigilance of the engineer or his assistant, and the train brought to a standstill before the point of danger has been reached.

It is perhaps unnecessary to state that the location of the magnet should be at such a dis tance from the point of danger as will insure the trains losing its headway before that point has been reached. When the lever E has passed beyond the influence of the temporary magnet, or the switch or draw has been closed, so that the circuit is broken and the current no longer creates the temporary magnet, the throttle-valve and the brake-valve may be released so as to be again operated by the engineer.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination, the movable rails of a 2. Inaswitch or draw-bridge, the combinaswitch or draw-bridge, a galvanic battery, and tion of a galvanic battery fixed on the road temporary magnet fixed adjacent to the main side, a temporary magnet adjacent'to the main track of a railroad, a locomotive With a lever track, a galvanic battery fixed on a locomo- 5 pivoted thereto and constructed to be operated tive, and the intermediate mechanism herein- 20 by said magnet, and a series of levers and before described for automatically operating jointed arms connected with said pivoted lethe throttle and brake valves of the locomotive, ver, a galvanic battery fixed on said locomoand the mechanism constructed, combined,and tive and connected with said series of levers, arranged as stated for closing the battery-cir- 10 the throttle-valve and brake-valve of a 1000- cuit on the locomotive, as and for the purpose 2 5 motive, and an armature and mechanism condescribed.

nected therewith for operating said throttle THOMAS POTTER. and brake valves by the electric current of said In presence of galvanic battery on said locomotive, as and V S. H. COOPER,

I 5 for the purpose described. FRED LA TOURRETTE. 

